Table 2.
Levels of inflammatory markers [median (IQR)] by demographic, work-related, and health-related variables.
| Variable | n | hs-CRP (mg/L) | IL-6 (pg/mL) | sICAM-1 (ng/mL) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | ||||||||
| ≤ 50 | 57 | 0.83 (0.43–1.90) | 1.22 (0.84–2.05) | 239.7 (202.3–282.8) | ||||
| 50–60 | 76 | 0.84 (0.44–1.84) | 1.41 (1.08–2.42) | 245.4 (198.7–297.0) | ||||
| > 60 | 66 | 1.14 (0.63–2.45) | 1.64 (1.05–3.39) | 252.2 (214.8–283.4) | ||||
| Sex | ||||||||
| Female | 16 | 1.48 (0.86–3.96) | 1.39 (0.99–2.48) | 277.5 (237.8–328.2) | ||||
| Male | 183 | 0.91 (0.44–1.92) | 1.38 (1.02–2.66) | 242.4 (201.3–284.3) | ||||
| Race | ||||||||
| Non-Caucasian | 16 | 0.99 (0.47–3.41) | 1.32 (0.83–1.83) | 260.0 (190.9–297.0) | ||||
| Caucasian | 183 | 0.93 (0.46–1.96) | 1.38 (1.04–2.66) | 246.0 (203.7–284.3) | ||||
| Education (years) | ||||||||
| ≤ 12 | 128 | 0.98 (0.46–2.13) | 1.32 (0.93–2.73) | 242.0 (200.3–281.8) | ||||
| > 12 | 71 | 0.83 (0.46–1.72) | 1.44 (1.07–2.25) | 254.2 (208.0–291.6) | ||||
| BMIa | ||||||||
| Normal | 27 | 0.71 (0.42–1.13) | 1.31 (0.87–1.98) | 241.6 (230.9–276.6) | ||||
| Overweight | 95 | 0.73 (0.42–1.42) | 1.18 (0.88–2.05) | 239.4 (199.4–279.3) | ||||
| Obese | 77 | 1.91 (0.84–3.65) | 1.86 (1.16–3.60) | 260.9 (208.1–301.1) | ||||
| Smoking history | ||||||||
| Never | 101 | 0.76 (0.42–1.69) | 1.21 (0.88–2.05) | 239.7 (199.0–276.6) | ||||
| Former | 98 | 1.28 (0.68–2.52) | 1.73 (1.11–3.10) | 255.8 (207.8–299.8) | ||||
| Alcohol use in previous 24 hr | ||||||||
| No | 136 | 0.98 (0.50–2.08) | 1.44 (1.10–2.69) | 247.7 (207.6–284.4) | ||||
| Yes | 43 | 0.73 (0.32–1.73) | 1.38 (0.84–2.70) | 238.9 (197.8–283.4) | ||||
| Job title | ||||||||
| Office worker | 18 | 1.00 (0.82–1.96) | 1.31 (1.05–1.86) | 282.3 (239.0–321.7) | ||||
| Terminal worker | 58 | 0.87 (0.46–1.64) | 1.18 (0.88–2.10) | 234.6 (203.6–268.0) | ||||
| Driver | 97 | 0.91 (0.42–1.97) | 1.42 (1.03–2.99) | 244.6 (198.4–283.6) | ||||
| Retired | 26 | 1.14 (0.72–2.57) | 1.74 (1.18–3.52) | 252.4 (214.8–306.6) | ||||
| Recruitment group | ||||||||
| On-site | 105 | 0.92 (0.43–2.09) | 1.42 (1.03–2.66) | 233.2 (197.8–273.5) | ||||
| By mail | 94 | 0.95 (0.55–1.96) | 1.24 (1.01–2.57) | 256.7 (217.7–299.8) | ||||
| COPD | ||||||||
| No | 183 | 0.86 (0.44–1.88) | 1.34 (0.96–2.48) | 241.6 (202.0–282.8) | ||||
| Yes | 16 | 2.49 (1.41–4.27) | 1.81 (1.18–4.25) | 319.3 (266.7–344.0) | ||||
| Asthma | ||||||||
| No | 179 | 0.91 (0.44–1.91) | 1.34 (1.02–2.47) | 242.8 (202.3–282.8) | ||||
| Yes | 20 | 1.89 (0.79–2.37) | 1.95 (1.17–4.13) | 283.9 (222.0–339.6) | ||||
| Chronic rhinitis | ||||||||
| No | 184 | 0.92 (0.45–1.95) | 1.32 (0.98–2.48) | 242.0 (203.1–284.0) | ||||
| Yes | 15 | 1.86 (0.71–2.17) | 2.15 (1.65–2.91) | 274.3 (242.8–316.9) | ||||
| High blood pressure | ||||||||
| No | 140 | 0.82 (0.44–1.88) | 1.22 (0.88–2.07) | 242.6 (202.6–284.0) | ||||
| Yes | 59 | 1.38 (0.71–2.68) | 2.05 (1.16–3.34) | 256.6 (217.2–314.1) | ||||
| Heart problem/disease | ||||||||
| No | 175 | 0.93 (0.46–1.96) | 1.32 (1.02–2.48) | 241.6 (202.3–281.2) | ||||
| Yes | 24 | 1.18 (0.54–2.41) | 2.07 (1.08–4.62) | 287.0 (210.6–358.9) | ||||
| Hay fever | ||||||||
| No | 156 | 0.90 (0.45–1.90) | 1.36 (1.03–2.65) | 246.8 (205.1–289.9) | ||||
| Yes | 43 | 1.22 (0.50–2.16) | 1.40 (0.88–2.48) | 231.2 (202.0–282.8) | ||||
| Aspirin use | ||||||||
| No | 137 | 0.93 (0.46–1.91) | 1.34 (1.04–2.48) | 242.4 (200.7–282.8) | ||||
| Yes | 62 | 0.89 (0.46–2.37) | 1.41 (0.92–2.91) | 254.2 (208.0–290.2) | ||||
| aNormal, < 25 kg/m2; overweight, 25–29.9 kg/m2; obese, ≥ 30 kg/m2. | ||||||||